by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
One hundred children from the St. Joseph area gathered for a week of Vacation Bible School from July 24-28 at Resurrection Lutheran Church.
Children, ages 4 years old through sixth grade, learned about faith through this year’s theme of “Barnyard Roundup: Jesus Gathers Us Together.”
During the five days, VBS participants learned about God and Jesus each day during rotating activity stations.
VBS activities included Bible stories, music, snacks, and craft or science. Some of the craft or science activities included soil erosion, picture frames, wooden crosses, mobiles and more.
VBS volunteer Laura Gorder’s daughter, Gabby, 8, created a mobile during craft time.
“I love VBS because I get to come, and share with my family and my friends,” Gabby said.
A special event during Monday night’s VBS included a petting zoo set up by Hemker’s Park and Zoo in Freeport.
Owner Joan Hemker and others brought two tortoises, three goats, a bunny, an alpaca and a miniature horse. They explained various facts about the animals to the VBS participants.
Preschool participant Avery Roles found it interesting that tortoises can’t swim and never go in water. Roles said she liked the horse the best of the animals at the petting zoo.
VBS organizer Rachel Kuebelbeck also brought in five 2-month-old kittens for participants to play with.
Parent volunteer Sarah Hogan said she has been volunteering with VBS for three years. Three of her children, ages 11 (twins) and 4, participated this year, and her 16-year-old child was volunteering for VBS.
“I volunteer to help kids know they are loved by Jesus and that they are very special,” Hogan said. “My son has food allergies so I help with snacks and help to keep other kids safe from food allergies.”
Adult volunteer Connie Roberts said she has been volunteering for about 10 years and does so because she enjoys people and likes to communicate with them.
Volunteer Cole Thoma built a barn to go with the “Barnyard” theme of VBS.
Student volunteers Jared Hennigs, 13, and Soren Haaland, 13, were helping with the games.
“I volunteer because it was fun when I was here,” Hennigs said.
“It’s a good experience,” Haaland said. “I would recommend doing this.”
VBS organizers Marian Bach and Gorder from Church of St. Joseph, Kuebelbeck from Resurrection Lutheran Church and Pastor Bruce Tessen from Gateway Church coordinated with many area volunteers for a week of faith-based, fun activities.
Fifty-nine people volunteered to help with the event this year. Gorder said because there were so many youth volunteers, they needed to reorganize the volunteer assignments so adult volunteers were with each group.
“We are very lucky to have seasoned volunteers from the surrounding area who come back year after year to volunteer for the week,” she said. “We also have quite a few parents who come and help out while their children enjoy the program. We are truly blessed to have such a great balance.”
“VBS is made possible by the generous donation of time and energy from our amazing volunteers,” Kuebelbeck said. “Each year I am moved by their dedication. This year feels extra special as we have seen several students age out of the program and return to help out. I’m excited to learn we may also have high school students graduating, but sadly their return is more uncertain as the call of adulthood gets louder and so does that of work and college.”
Some of the students graduating have volunteered for five or six years.
“We have enjoyed watching them grow into incredible adults,” Kuebelbeck said. “VBS can be a bit chaotic in a very fun way, and I cannot express enough gratitude for the moments in which people have seen a need and met it on their own.”
“Hats off to the many volunteers and businesses that help and support our VBS week,” Bach said. This year’s VBS theme was a great success. Children and leaders and helpers from the Church of St. Joseph, Gateway and Resurrection helped to make it a fun country time.”
“VBS is about growing in faith,” Gorder said. “St. Joseph does an amazing job of coming together as a community to help the kids and one another share the faith. This year, the experience has struck me with such great gratitude for the uniqueness of the program. I cannot think of any other event that brings as many people together in the name of God. This week we celebrated our faith beliefs with at least five different denominations of people traveling from as far as Sioux City, S.D. The excitement of the week is my motivation all year through.”
Bach said the joy of VBS will be shared locally and globally because the participants filled the donation piggy banks to overflowing.
Funds raised will be donated to “Heifer International,” a non-profit organization working to end world hunger and poverty by providing livestock and training to struggling areas. Some funds raised will also go to the St. Benedict Common Ground Garden endeavor.
“It’s always fun to see so many children enjoy learning something new each night,” Tessen said. “VBS encourages children to understand the Bible and apply those Bible truths to their lives, making God’s word both real and meaningful.”
He added although VBS takes a lot of effort, it’s well worth it.
“The rewards are beneficial for today, for tomorrow and for eternity,” Tessen said. “VBS also provides an opportunity for children to see the three churches functioning together as the body of Christ that it was meant to be. All participants have a different job, all do their job, and in working together, the lives of children are changed. I count it an honor to be a part of this vital ministry to children and each year I look forward to it.”
This is the 33rd year area churches have coordinated the event.
Vacation Bible School attendee Gabby Gorder, 8, shows off her newly created mobile to her mother, Laura Gorder, and other participants and volunteers July 25 at Resurrection Lutheran Church.
Preschool participants Shane Zimmer (front, right) and Ian Kompelien (back) visit a bunny held by Ella Roering from Hemker Park and Zoo, while Vacation Bible School volunteer Soren Haaland (right, center) demonstrates how to pet it.
Preschool participants prepare to eat snacks during Vacation Bible School July 25 at Resurrection Lutheran Church.
Vacation Bible School volunteers Jared Hennigs, 13, (left) and Soren Haaland, 13, hold two kittens owned by VBS organizer Rachel Kuebelbeck.
VBS preschool participants and volunteers visit the petting zoo set up by Hemker Park and Zoo employees of Freeport on July 25 at Resurrection Lutheran Church.
Pastor Bruce Tessen, from Gateway Church, discusses Bible stories with fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade VBS participants.
Preschool participants Avery Roles (front, center) reaches to touch a baby kitten while Braeden Grey (left), Kaeden Grey (right) and other participants and volunteers watch during Vacation Bible School July 25 at Resurrection Lutheran Church.
